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Retta

Acting

Born July 12, 1978 · Newark, New Jersey, USA

Also known as Retta Sirleaf · Marietta Sirleaf · Marietta Sangai Sirleaf

Biography

Marietta Sirleaf, better known simply as Retta, is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She is mainly known for her starring role as Donna Meagle on NBC's Parks and Recreation. She has appeared in several films and television shows, and has performed stand-up on Comedy Central's Premium Blend. Retta is from New Jersey, and graduated from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She started working in the pharmaceutical research field before moving to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in comedy.Retta started performing stand-up comedy in 1996, although she said she did not start "earning money" until 1998, when she started touring on the college circuit. Retta said she used to get "really nauseated" before a performance, but that the feeling passed with experience.Retta has said her stand-up material tends to be slightly embellished stories from her regular everyday life, family, and friends. She has also made jokes about her obesity. Retta has stated she would give up stand-up comedy for a full-time acting career if possible: "I'm not married to stand-up, just because it's a road thing. It's very lonely with all the traveling.

Filmography50+ titles

Where's Waldo?

as Wizard Nightingale (voice)

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

2005as Hardware Store Clerk

Parks and Recreation

2009as Donna Meagle

Duncanville

2020as Makeover Station Employee (voice)

Good Girls

2018as Ruby Hill

DuckTales

2017as Mystical Harp (voice)

Bob's Burgers

2011as Animal Control Officer (voice)

The Morning Show

2019as Retta

Key and Peele

2012as Woman

Big Mouth

2017as Duke's Mother (voice)

Bubble Guppies

2006as General Yuck (voice)

Fracture

2007as Evidence Room Cop

Diabolical

2022as Ghost's Mom (voice)

To the Bone

2017as Lobo

Moesha

1996

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

2021as Self - Contestant

The $100,000 Pyramid

as Self - Guest

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

2016as Ida Stricker

Comedy Central Presents

1998as Self

Hit Man

2023as Claudette

Good Boys

2019as Lucas' Mom

Drunk History

2013as Sylvia Robinson

Elsbeth

2024as Margo Clarke

Get Organized with The Home Edit

The Greatest Hits

2024as Dr. Evelyn Bartlett

The Lego Ninjago Movie

2017as Maggie the Cheerleader (voice)

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019as Self

Other People

2016as Nina

Match Game

as Self - Panelist

Band Aid

2017as Carol

80 for Brady

2023as Self

Sex and Death 101

2007as Ethel Walters (#100)

Carpool Karaoke: The Series

as Self

Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong

2023as Self

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip

2015as Party Planner

Kissing Cousins

2008as Shawna the Chef

The Real Bros of Simi Valley: The Movie

2024as Mrs. Bundy

Father Figures

2017as Annie

Operator

2016as Pauline 'Roger' Rogers

Ugliest House in America

2022as Self - Host

To Tell the Truth

2016as Self - Panelist

Where's the Money

2017as Roberta

Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce

2014as Barbara

First Sunday

2008as Roberta

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

1988as Self - Guest

The Jennifer Hudson Show

as Self

Sex Ed

2014as Sydney

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003as Heckler

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014as Self

Slackers

2002as Bruna